Monday, May 9, 2011

Need something to do this week? I think we have you covered. All events are at Boswell, unless otherwise specified.

Monday, May 9, 7 pm:

Matthew Algeo, author of The President is a Sick Man: wherein the supposedly virtuous Grover Cleveland Surives a Secret Surgery at Sea and Vilifies the Coourageous Newspaperman who Dared to Expose the Truth.

What more do you say after a title like that? Jason really enjoyed this, as did Jim Higgins of the Journal Sentinel, noting "(Algeo) mixes narrative and context smoothly, and keeps speculation minimal." Read the rest of the review here.

Tuesday, May 10, 4 pm, at the Urban Ecology Center:
Mark Kurlansky, author of A World Without Fish

As part of the Young Scientist's Club, a riveting story about what is happening to our oceans and the fish that live in them. This book for kids is by the author of Salt, Cod, and the new What?: Are These the Twenty Most Important Questions in Human History or Is This a Game of Twenty Questions? This event is free, but registration is requested. Please call (414) 964-8505.

Tuesday, May 10, 7 pm:
Ellen Meeropol, author of novel House Arrest

A young nurse finds herself charged with taking care of a pregnant woman who has been accused of killing her first child. She'd like to avoid the duty, but her supervisor's looking to get her fired. And her charge is a member of a controversial cult, and the daddy's in jail. Though they don't really trust each other at first, they soon become friends, and that's when things get complicated. Meeropol is a retired nurse who is also the acclaimed event and book club coordinator for Massachusetts' Odyssey Bookshop. She numbers among her favorite authors Paule Marshall, Rosellen Brown, and like many booksellers, is crazy for Rachel DeWoskin's forthcoming novel, Big Girl Small. Remember that one? I said it was out in May but the book was delayed until June. Here's a Q&A with Meeropol in Shelf Awareness.

Wednesday, May 11, 7 pm

June Skinner Sawyers, author of Bob Dylan: New York.

Lots of buzz on this combination micro-history and travel guide that explores the relationship between Bob Dylan and New York City. Street maps navigate you from the Chelsea Hotel to Columbia's Studio A to Dylan's apartment on "Positively Fourth Street." More in the Journal Sentinel's Tap Milwaukee write up.

The author of Year of Wonders, March, and People of the Book, as well as the beloved nonfiction Nine Parts of Desire is coming this Thursday. Ticket sales are good, but I'll warn you that other events have sold 70-80 books. If we want Brooks to return to Milwaukee, we need to sell at least 100 tickets. Buy one and you get the book at Boswell's Best pricing. Plus appetizers from Beans and Barley. Plus the book's great. Anne said it was closest in style to Year of Wonders.

Saturday, May 14, 2 pm:

Jerome Pohlen, author of Progressive Nation: A Travel Guide with 400+ Left Turns and Inspiring Landmarks.

If you need to be inspired this summer, why not visit:

–The home of abolitionists Levi and Catharine Coffin, Grand Central Station on the Underground Railroad.

–Alice's Restaurant Church, the namesake of Arlo Guthrie's song protesting the draft.

–The courthouse where Susan B. Anthony went on trial for attempting to vote.

–The site of the Haymarket Riot in Chicago, where laborers protested working conditions.

–The former camera shop where Harvey Milk launched his campaign to become America's first openly gay elected official.

Hear Pohlen, editor at Chicago Review Press and former Green Party candidate for the House of Representatives (are those good enough credentials) this Saturday at Boswell. If it's raining, this event could be just the ticket. If it's nice, you can always run around in the morning or late afternoon.

And don't forget that St. Robert's is having their semi-annual student reading, this Saturday, May 14, at 11 am.